Community Resources

The Cottage City Green Team works together with neighbors to make our town greener and healthier. Below are some options to try out.

Annual Dueling Creek Clean Ups

The historic Dueling Creek runs through Cottage City and is a stream home to wildlife. The Green Team sponsors periodic community clean-ups to keep the waterway pristine for residents and critters to enjoy.

Anacostia River and Anacostia Heritage Trails

The magnificent forest is filled with wildlife friends like deer. To get away from the hectic life and enjoy peace of nature this is the place to explore.

Community Parks

Cottage City has abundance of green spaces and parks to enjoy for residents and visitors of all ages.

Baywise Certification

The Green Team sponsors the Baywise Certification for homeowners who want to make their lawns more sustainable and gardens organic. The team’s goal is to certify 20 lawns. To learn more about getting your yard certified through Baywise contact Cottage City resident Anne Rivera at anner51@comcast.net.

The Cottage City Community Garden received the Baywise Certification for organic and sustainable practices.

Pet Waste Stations and Scoop that Poop

Did you know that disease and bacteria from your dog’s poop pollutes local streams making them unsafe? Stations are located throughout our town and are equipped with doggie bags and disposal bins for you to use on your dog walks. These help our community be healthier and cleaner.

Big Belly Trash Cans

These cans are located throughout the town and aren’t just any normal trash cans, they’re a more sustainable option. They have a built-in compactor to make space for more trash, have solar panels to provide energy and a way to communicate with (the trash company) when it is full and needs to be emptied.

Solar Energy

Cottage City encourages residents to consider installing solar panels on their homes. At the beginning of 2025, approximately 50 homes have installed solar panels including the Town Hall. With these approximately 900 solar panels, residents are collecting energy from the sun to power their energy needs and decreasing their energy costs. One resident received a $8.51 bill and described her contributions," In an average day with 21 panels I contributed a CO2 reduction of 47.0 lbs which equated to charging 2,600 phones." We encourage homeowners to call a well-respected Solar Provider for an estimate.

Electric Car Charging Stations

If you own an electric car that needs a charge, you’re in luck. At the town hall parking lot are two electric charging stations. These stations are free for anyone to use! The town was recently able to upgrade the Code Enforcement vehicle to a brand new all electric vehicle.

Little Free Library

Our Little Libraries are located at the town hall, tot lot and Cottage City Playground. It's free for everyone to use. Stop by to pick up a book or drop one off. To learn more about the Free Libraries, click here.

Trap, Neuter and Release Feral Cats Program

The TNR team of volunteers working with A Cat's Life Rescue is addressing the number of feral cats in the neighborhood. This is a free program to address and manage a healthy cat population. To report a cat for the TNR program call

240-241-0594 or acatsliferescue.org

Cottage City Becomes a Tree City USA

Cottage City received the Tree City USA designation after the town adopted a tree ordinance to protect our tree canopy and planted two trees donated by Urban & Community Forestry at Maryland Department of Natural Resources. (2025)

Traffic Calming: A Creative Devise

Studies show that slowing traffic through our streets can protect our most vulnerable populations. Painted crosswalks and speed bumps work.

At the new Cottage City Tot Lot a brightly colored crosswalk encourages residents to slow down and watch for children.

To learn more about the Mt Rainier- artist based Chalk Riot www.chalkriot.com

Dumpster Weekends

Twice a year residents can throw away large items at the town sponsored Dumpster Weekends. Look for the spring and fall dates and plan to clean out your basements and garages. Workshops on how to reduce, reuse and recycle are also available to residents. All services are free to residents and located at the town hall parking lot.

Youth Involvement Programs

Healthy communities involve youth, Cottage City is no exception. Every month there are ways to include youth in planning town activities like the annual Port Towns Day, Cottage City Day, food giveaways, and holidays parties. Community service hours are available to all students involved. We are united in our diversity.

Tree Canopy Committee

Community volunteers bring a wealth of knowledge to help preserve our tree canopy. We are blessed with many healthy mature trees and newly planted trees along our streets and in our yards. The Tree Canopy Inventory is assisting us in protecting and replanting trees suffering from disease, weather damage and invasive vines.

The results show we have a healthy and diverse array of trees, so as you walk our streets notice all the beautiful variety of maples, oaks, myrtles, cherries and plums.

Appreciation to the Chesapeake Bay Trust Urban Trees Grant, Green Works, CCAN, ARPA Funds and Maryland Department of Natural Resources for trees and maintenance expertise.

The Decade of the Tree Canopy

The Green Team in collaboration with the town launched the initiative in 2024 to preserve our mature trees, plant new trees and encourage residents to plant at least one tree and remove invasive vines that kill trees.

* In 2023-25, the town granted $45,000 to the program to help residents with their tree needs.

* During the winter of 2025, over 100 volunteers cut invasive vines in our parklands and in our yards and forests, saving approximately 310 trees and collecting 70 bags of trash.

Join the Cottage City Community Garden

Since 2010, the garden has served as a quiet, peaceful gathering place providing organic food to the community members. It has become a friendly place to meet to learn how to garden and prepare fresh food and have fun together. The garden uses a composting system and has installed beehives. The beehives provide residents with local honey.

Stop by and check us out at 4222 Cottage Terrace, we are open from sunrise to sunset. To see what is planned or how to reserve a place to garden or get tasty recipes visit www.cottagecitygarden.com.

Learn more about what’s new at the Cottage City Community Garden!

We are producing honey from the two beehives. Below is a video highlighting our first honey harvest workshop!

Rain Gardens and Bioretention Area

This bioretention area is located at the town hall and is a giant rain garden and is used to catch runoff stormwater from the parking lot.

Rain gardens catch rainwater and improve the water quality by removing chemicals, nutrients, and other sediments. This improves the water quality in nearby bodies of water and provides clean water to plants. Rain gardens are filled with native plants and serves as a pollinator garden.

Throughout the town properties and Cottage City Community Garden we are harvesting rainwater, installing rain barrels and building/maintaining rain gardens to assist with stormwater management. Major stormwater infrastructures are being rebuilt to address street and basement flooding.

The Green Team encourages you to plant a rain garden, to learn how, visit County/State Resources.